Improvement in processes of rendering fibrous and textile materials water-proof



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

XA IEE KARGHESKI, oE BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY, xssrcnoe TO SOLOMEN D. MoMILLAN, TRUSTEE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT lN PROCESSES OF RENDERING FIBROUS AND TEXTILE MATERIALS WATER-PROBE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,452, dated April 1, 1873; application filed March 15, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, XAVIER KAROHESKI, of Belleville, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in the Process of Rendering Fibrous and Textile Material Water-Proof, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to improvements in the process of permanently stiffening paper, or muslin, or other textile vegetable fabrics, and rendering them permanently water-proof by subjectingthem to the action of sulphuric acid, and then compressing them so as to modify their internal structure and convert them into a more nearly homogeneous mass;and

' consists in certain modifications of the pro cess heretofore known, whereby the operator is enabled to more perfectly control and determine the action of the acid, and thus produce uniform results, as is more fully set forth in the subjoined description.

The analogous process referred to has heretofore been practiced upon paper only.

My improvements embrace three steps in the process: First, the acid-bath, which I make of from fifty-six to fifty-seven and onehalf gravity, and keep it at a temperature of not higher than 50 Fahrenheit. I have found that acid of this gravity and temperature acts so slowly as a solvent that I can safely prolong the immersion of the material operated upon until it has absorbed the proper quantity of acid. The proper quantity will be more or less, according to the nature and thickness of the material, and according to the result which is sought to be produced, as the operator will soon learn by experience.

The second step in my process consists in subjecting the material operated upon, after it has absorbed the necessary quantity of acid and has been removed from the cold acid-bath, to a higher temperature, for the purpose of increasing or accelerating the action of the acid. Ordinarily mere exposure to the atmosphere will be sufficient, because of the heat evolved in the absorption by the acid of atmospheric moisture; but, if necessary, a hot blast may be applied, or the material may be introduced into a heated chamber. Here, again, the operator will soon learn by experience to fix the duration of this part of the process, and will be enabled to do so more easily and certainly because of the limited quantity of acid which is present. The material, having been partially dissolved by the acid, is then subjected to pressure and immersed in water. The object of the pressure at this stage of the process is twofold: First, to expel the excess. of acid; and, secondly, to promote the agglutination of the partially-dissolved material; or, in other words, to compact the material to gether and the object of the water-bath is. to eliminate the acid.

The third step in my process consists in prolonging the water-bath, without intermission, until the acid has been, as far as possible, removed, in contradistinction to the practice heretofore obtaining of subjecting the matetial to a series of water-baths, with alternate exposures to the atmosphere. I also subject the material to pressure while in the waterbath-to assist in the expulsion of the acid and complete the agglutination of the material, so as to convert it into a compact and homogeneous mass.

By my improved method of manipulation the operator is enabled to control the process, first, by limiting the quantity of acid allowed to be present; and, secondly, by fixing the duration of the period during which the limited quantity of acid is permitted to act in its capacity as a'solvent.

The operation may be advantageously repeated upon the same material if the desired result is not produced at the first trial.

When, by experiment, the desired result is produced, by reason of the facility with which the various steps of the process can be noted, the operator is enabled to continually reproduce like results upon like material.

I claim as my invention in the process describedl. The acid-bath of a temperature under 50 Fahrenheit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Removing the material operated upon from the acid-bath and subjecting it to a higher temperature, either by exposing it to moist air or to heated air, substantially as and for the three steps distinctively referred to, substanpurpose described. tially as Ce3cribed, and for the-purpose set 3. Prolonging the water-bath, substantially forth.

as and for the purpose described. XAVIER KARCHESKI.

4. Subjeeting the material to pressure under Witnesses:

water, for the purpose described. 1VIART1N GILLET,

5. The process as a hole, consisting of the GEO. W. MIATT. 

